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Hugged by God

I know they are predictable - and that, in the end, boy and girl will get together after facing some kind of seemingly insurmountable crisis.

But I like to watch them anyway.

I got a bit teary the other night as I watched the main couple hugging at the end of the movie. I was remembering what it felt like to have my husband’s arms around me, enveloping me in a huge hug.

“I’ll never be hugged like that again, “ I whispered, in a voice not meant to be heard.

My daughter heard, though, and jumped out of her chair to run to me. “I’ll hug you, Mommy.”

Quietly, I told her that I love her hugs, but added - “It’s not quite the same thing though. I miss Daddy’s hugs.”

She hugged me tightly. “I miss Daddy, too.”

I thought about the reality of the fact that I probably won’t feel that kind of hug again. Not at my age, and with all that is going on for me health wise. I’m fairly certain my relationship days are over. And I’m usually ok with that. I was blessed to be so loved for over twenty years. But for that brief moment …

This morning, I read my morning devotional verse.

“The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3

An everlasting love.

Isn’t that what we all yearn for?

Isn’t that why we watch Hallmark movies and read romance novels.

Isn’t the reason that we hug each other - to show our love?

The sun brightened up outside my window just a few moments ago.

“That’s a God hug,” I thought.

I listened to the quietness of morning.

“That’s another hug.”

I began to think of all the ways God shows His love to me. I’d never thought of them as hugs before, but I like that idea.

So, while I’ll miss the hugs of my husband every next day of my life, I’ll be on the lookout for God hugs, and listening for the whisper,